The discussion focuses on regional impacts, with Ekwurzel warning that the American Southwest faces increased wildfire risk, brutal heat waves, and prolonged drought. She describes how sea level rise threatens island nations and regions like Bangladesh facing flooding from both ocean storms and Himalayan glacier melt. She also shares findings from a survey showing widespread government muzzling of federal climate researchers, with officials blocking scientists from using the term "global warming" in press releases.
The first two hours feature open lines with callers discussing the honeybee colony collapse and the theory that cell phone radiation may be disrupting bee navigation. Art opens the show noting that bee disappearances have spread across Europe, with two-thirds of London's hives now empty, and cites Einstein's warning that humanity would have four years to live without honeybees.
Key Moments
Unprecedented heat-trapping gases in 650,000 years: Ekwurzel states the scientific consensus: human activity is driving climate change with greenhouse gas levels not seen for hundreds of thousands of years.
Desert Southwest tinderbox warning: Ekwurzel tells Bell directly that his Desert Southwest home is among the world's hot spots, facing wildfires, brutal heat waves, and prolonged drought.
Federal scientists muzzled on climate: Ekwurzel describes the Union of Concerned Scientists survey finding widespread suppression of climate scientists at NOAA, NASA, USGS, and EPA, including bans on the words 'global warming.'
23-foot sea level rise scenario: Ekwurzel explains that sustained warming of 2-7 degrees Fahrenheit could trigger irreversible Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheet melt, raising global sea levels by 23 feet.
Driving toward a cliff in fog: Ekwurzel offers her signature metaphor: humanity is driving a car toward a cliff edge on a foggy night, unable to see how fast the edge approaches but knowing it is there.